Since 2023 the IMO’s EEXI (Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index) and CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) framework applies to every existing cargo, RoPax and cruise ship above 5,000 GT. Singapore-flagged vessels report through the flag state; MPA collects, verifies and submits to the IMO. If your ship is subject to EEXI/CII, the comms setup on board determines how painful the annual reporting exercise becomes. This post covers what the regulations actually require, what data the comms system needs to capture, and how to design it to be nearly effortless.
EEXI vs CII in one paragraph each
EEXI — a design-based efficiency index. Calculated once (or when the ship’s characteristics change). Ships must be at or below their required EEXI. Compliance is about vessel design and permanent power limitation, not day-to-day operation.
CII — an operational efficiency indicator. Calculated annually based on actual voyages: CO2 emitted per DWT-mile. Ships receive a rating from A (best) to E (worst). Ships rated D for 3 consecutive years or E for 1 year must produce a corrective action plan.
EEXI is a one-time exercise. CII is annual and gets harder each year as targets tighten.
What CII actually requires the vessel to report
Per-voyage, the vessel needs to log:
- Fuel consumption by fuel type (HFO, LSFO, MGO, LNG, etc.)
- Distance travelled (nautical miles)
- Cargo carried (deadweight utilised)
- Time at sea vs port
- CO2 emissions derived from fuel × emission factor
Annually, all voyages roll up into the CII calculation. The ship’s manager submits to the Recognised Organisation (class society) for verification, then to MPA for flag-state acceptance.
The comms setup that makes CII reporting nearly effortless
Manual CII reporting is a nightmare — chief engineers filling in fuel logs, admin staff cross-checking bunker delivery notes, class surveyors chasing missing data. Automated IoT capture eliminates 90% of the manual work.
Minimum viable comms + sensor stack:
- Mass flow meters on fuel supply lines — automated fuel consumption per engine, per hour
- GPS + speed log — automated distance and time
- Draft sensors or manual draft entry — for cargo utilised calculation
- Data logger with satellite backhaul (Iridium SBD or Inmarsat IDP) — position + fuel data every 15-60 minutes to shore
- Cloud portal ashore — auto-generated CII reports, class-society ready
What each piece costs — SGD per vessel, 2026
| Item | Cost (SGD) |
|---|---|
| Mass flow meters (2-4 engines) | 3,500-5,500 |
| GPS + speed log integration | 800-1,200 |
| Draft sensor (optional) | 800-1,500 |
| Data logger + satellite backhaul | 1,500-2,200 |
| Install labour | 1,500-2,000 |
| Cloud portal + reporting subscription (annual) | 800-1,500/yr |
| One-off deployment | 8,100-12,400 |
Want a practical view of what your fleet really needs?
Share your fleet size and the problem you are trying to solve. We will suggest a sensible starting point, not a shopping list.
Time savings — the real business case
Time studies from Singapore ship managers using automated CII reporting:
- Manual reporting: 6-10 hours per vessel per month of admin + engineer time to compile data. 100 hours/year per vessel.
- Automated reporting: 30 minutes per vessel per month to review + submit. 6 hours/year per vessel.
- Time saved: 94 hours per vessel per year. At SGD 40/hour blended admin rate, that’s SGD 3,760 saved.
Across a 10-vessel fleet: SGD 37,600/year saved on labour alone. Plus dramatically fewer errors, faster class surveys, and easier response to charter and financing queries.
Additional benefits of the same stack
Once you have automated fuel and voyage data, the same infrastructure delivers:
- Bunker fraud detection (see our separate post)
- Fuel efficiency optimisation (typical 3-8% savings)
- Voyage optimisation and vessel right-sizing
- EU MRV reporting (mandatory for calls to EU ports)
- Charter-party proof of performance data
CII compliance pays for itself; the additional benefits are gravy.
What Envisiondata supplies
We design, install and support the full EEXI/CII-ready IoT + comms stack for Singapore-flagged vessels. Integrates with Class NK, DNV, LR, ABS and Bureau Veritas class society portals. Sales at Envisiondata Pte Ltd — sales@envisiondatasg.com — or WhatsApp Steve directly on +65 9088 4899.
Related reading
Get an EEXI/CII IoT quote
Send us the fleet list — vessel type, GT, engine count — and we’ll quote per-vessel and fleet-wide EEXI/CII-ready IoT deployment. Sales at Envisiondata Pte Ltd — sales@envisiondatasg.com — or WhatsApp Steve directly on +65 9088 4899.
How we can help
Fleet technology only pays back when it is sized to the job and set up properly. We help operators pick the right systems, install them and keep them working.
- Free fleet systems assessment
- Onboard network, Wi-Fi and cybersecurity design
- Fuel monitoring and fleet IoT with shore dashboards
- Pilot projects on one to five vessels before full roll-out
What happens when you contact us
- Short call or meeting — we listen to how your vessels operate.
- Vessel and route review — we check equipment, space, power, contracts and licensing.
- Clear recommendation — a written proposal and SGD quote, with options.
- Install and support — commissioning, testing and ongoing support.
Related: Fleet Manager bundle
Book a free fleet systems assessment
There is no obligation. If your current set-up is already the right one, we will tell you.
About the author
Steve leads Envisiondata Pte Ltd in Singapore. He has more than 20 years in cables, telecom infrastructure and satellite communications across ASEAN. He designs and supports connectivity for tugs, OSVs, harbour craft and commercial fleets across the region.
Written by Steve
Steve has over 20 years of experience in cables, telecom infrastructure and satellite communications across ASEAN. He founded Envision Data to help Singapore and SE Asia vessel operators choose and run the right maritime connectivity, from Starlink and OneWeb to Iridium, Inmarsat and GMDSS.
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